Ink roller vibrating mechanism



March 18, 1958 H. w. GEGENHEIMER E'I AL 2,326,989

INK ROLLER VIBRATING MECHANISM 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1955 2 sheets-sneez 1March 18, 1958 v H- W. GEGENHE IMER ET AL INK ROLLER VIBRATING MECHANISM2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1955 INVE TOR5: Ham/d M gage/2km?! SamuelHaw Pub/n5 BY I MUM, M FM ATTORNEYE INK ROLLER VIBRATING MECHANISMHarold W. Gegenheimer, Darien, Conn., and Samuel Davis Robins, Lawrence,N. Y., assignors to William Gegenheimer C0,, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application January 4, 1955, Serial No. 479,716

8 Claims. (Cl. 101348) The present invention relates to inking rolls forprinting presses and has specific reference to an improved vibratinginking roll of the type employed in printing presses for eifecting aneven distribution of ink upon the large inking cylinders.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment. of

the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of'the inking roll of the present invention showing in detail the mechanismfor producing longitudinal reciprocation or vibration of the roll;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the nuts or cam followerassemblies with the end of the actuating lever received in the slotformed in the bottom thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective, exploded view of one of the helical cammembers and the radial cam members associated with each end thereof; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Figure 3 andshowing one of theradial cams.

As is well known in the art pertaining to printing machines, in theinking operation ink is applied intermittently to a large inkingcylinder by means of an oscillating roll or applicator. In order totransform this intermittent ink supply into an evenly distributed filmsuitable for application to the form or plate, relatively small inkingrolls are positioned about and in contact with an inking cylindercausing the ink to be uniformly distributed on the periphery of thecylinder before the inkis applied to the form or plate. These inkingrolls are in contact with the cylinder or with form inking rolls, andare vibrated or reciprocated in an axial direction which, together withthe close proximity of adjacent rolls, makes it desirable that theirmass be a minimum and their diameter and overall length be as small aspracticable and also that they be simply constructed.

It is, the object of the present invention to provide an improved inkingroll that is automatically reciprocated in response to rotation of theroll and yet is simple in construction and has a minimum overall lengthand a small diameter. A further object is to provide an improved inkingroll that is automatically reciprocated in response to rotation of theroll and wherein the actuating mechanism for producing reciprocation ofthe roll is positioned entirely within the roll in a manner so that itcan be packed in grease and where it, is free from possible damage aswell as from being fouled by foreign mat- United States Patent ter. Astill further object is to provide an improved Vibrating inking rollthat is compact yet highly reliable in operation and in which therotating and reciprocating portion is of minimum weight. g

In the present invention the roll includes a cylindrical sleeve that isjournaled upon a pair of axially aligned, spaced spindles which are heldin a suitable frame or sup port. The sleeve is journaled to the spacedspindles in a manner which provides not only for rotation of the sleeveabout its axis, but also axial reciprocation of the sleeve upon thespindles through a given or predetermined amplitude. In operation of thedevice the outer surface of the sleeve contacts an inking cylinder of aprinting press or another inking roll which is rotating thereby causingthe inking roll to rotate about its axis. In response to this rotationof the roll, mechaism within the sleeve is effective to axiallyreciprocate the sleeve through a predetermined amplitude. As embodiedthis mechanism comprises a pair of internal helical cams of oppositepitch positioned within the sleeve in a manner so they are moved withthe sleeve, with the cams being coaxial with the sleeve and spacedlongitudinally from one another. Also positioned within the sleeve andradially in ward of the cams are a pair of cam followers each of whichis mounted in a suitable bore provided in a stationary frame secured toand positioned intermediate the spindles so that the followers arerestrained against movement with the sleeve but are permitted to move alimited distance laterally of the sleeve, and have slight angular motionwithin their bores so that they may seat properly within the helicalcams. Each of the followers cooperates with a different one of the camsand 'is laterally movable between a position in engagement with itsassociated cam and out of engagement with its associated cam withlongitudinal movement of the sleeve in response to rotation of thesleeve being effected in one direction when one of the followers is inits engaged position and in the opposite direction when the otherfollower is inits engaged position. Automatic actuation of the followersis achieved by a concentric cam surface positioned at the end of each ofthe helical cams so as to be engaged by the follower to cam the followerfrom its engaged to its disengaged position. This lateral movement ofone of the followers from its engaged to its disengaged position istransmitted through a pivotal lever to the other follower to move itfrom its disengaged to its engaged position.

- Thus, when each of the followers reaches the outer end I of itsassociated cam, which respectively correspond to the extremities ofreciprocal movement of the sleeve, the

followers are automatically shifted or moved laterally to their otherposition thereby reversing the longitudinal are exemplary andexplanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now to the present preferred and illustrative embodiment ofthe invention shown in the accompanying drawing and wherein likereference characters designate like elements, the inking roll depictedtherein comprises a cylindrical sleeve 10 journaled upon the spaced andaxially aligned spindles 12 and 14 by means of bearings 16 and 18,respectively. The aligned spindles are held fast in a suitable frame,not shown, and the bearings, which may be of any desired conventionalvariety, provide not only for rotation of the sleeve about its axis,which corresponds with the axis of the spindles, but also for axialreciprocation of the sleeve with respect to the spindles with thebearings moving axially with the sleeve and along the spindles and beingconstructed to retain lubricant within the sleeve. H

The outer surface of sleeve is adapted to contact a rotating inkingcylinder of a printing press for the purpose of effecting an evendistribution of the ink and upon contact with this cylinder the sleeveis rotated about its longitudinal axis.

In order to produce a more even distribution of the ink, the sleeve isreciprocated axially through a given amplitude, this being termedvibration in the printing art, and for this purpose the oppositelypitched internal helical earns 22 and 24 are secured within the sleeve,coaxial therewith and so that they move with t; e sleeve. These camspreferably take the form of an internal, square thread provided incylindrical members 23 and 25, respectively, which are snugly fittedwithin the cylindrical sleeve and are secured to the sleeve inanydesired manner with the cams being longitudinally spaced from each otherby the spacer rings 26 and being spaced from the bearings 16 and 18 byspacer rings 28.

Cooperating with helical cams 22 and 24, respectively, in a manner toproduce reciprocation of the sleeve are cam follower assemblies 30 and32 mounted in the stationary support member 34 which is positionedwithin sleeve 10 and helical cams 22 and 24 and is bored to receive theinner ends of spindles l2 and 14 with set screws 36 positively securingthe support member to the spindles. The cam follower assemblies 30 and32 are slidably and rotatively mounted in cylindrical bores 38 and 40,respectively, extending laterally through the stationary support memberthereby permitting angular movement of the assemblies about their axesin order to obtain proper seating of the follower Within the helical camand also permitting lateral movement of each of the follower assemblies.intermediate a radially outward position where the follower engages itsrespective cam and a radial inward position where it is free of or outof engagement with its respective cam, with follower assembly 30 beingshown in the engaged position in Figure 1.

Each of the cam follower assemblies includes a wheel or roller 42rotatably mounted on shaft 44 by means of bearing 46 with the shaftbeing secured in cylindrical frame. 48 which is received within therespective bore in support member to provide for angular movementthereof about its axis. as well asreciprocation thereof within the bore.The follower assemblies are retained in their radial innermost andoutermost .positions in their respective slot by spring pressed detent50 positioned in the bore 52 provided in stationary support member 34and which cooperates with the laterally spaced grooves 54 in the face offrame 48. These grooves are so positioned that when the detent is in theoutermost groove the follower assembly occupies its radial outer or camengaging position While when in the innermost groove the followerassembly occupies its radial inner or cam disengaged position. i

Positioned intermediate cam follower assemblies 30 and 32 and within theelongated slot 56 formed in support member 34 is lever 58 pivotallymounted about the pivotal support 60 and having its opposite endsrespectively received within recesses 64 provided within the frames ofthe respective assemblies and bearing against the upper surface of theserecesses. By mounting lever 58 in this manner, when one of the followerassemblies is moved inwardly from its cam engaging position to its camdisengaging position the other follower assembly will be simultaneouslymoved outwardly, through action of the lever, from its cam disengagingto its cam engaging position. Angular movement of the followerassemblies about their axis is limited by reception of the ends of lever58 within the recesses 64 and 66 with these recesses being so related tothe ends of the lever as to permit sufficient angular movement of theassemblies that the plane of wheel 42 may be askew of the axis of sleeve1'] an angle equal to the pitch of thehelical cams so that the wheelwill rest fiat against the wall of cam and fit properly in the groove ofthe cam.

When the follower assemblies are in their outermost or cam engagingposition roller or wheel 42 is positioned within the groove of the camand in the embodiment shown when follower assembly 30 is in its camengaging position in engagement with cam 22 and sleeve 10 is rotated ina clockwise direction as viewed from its left end the sleeve will bemoved longitudinally to the right as viewed in the drawing whileengagement of follower with cam 24 will move the sleeve longitudinallyin the opposite direction i. e., to the left as viewed in the drawing.

In order to produce a continuous reciprocation or vibration of thesleeve as long as it is rotated, movement of the cam followers to andfrom their engaged and disengaged position is automatically etfected andfor this purpose the eccentric camming surface 62 is provided at theends of the helical cams with this camming surface having a graduallydecreasing depth which is effective to cam the follower assemblylaterally to its innermost or disengaged position. As is evident fromFigure 3 camming surface 62 is preferably formed on the extensions orprojections 68 of the spacer rings 26 and 28 with these projectionsbeing received in milled slots 70 provided in the ends of cylindricalmembers 23 and 25 so the concentric cams form a smooth juncture with theroot of the internal square thread in these members. The cammingsurfaces 62 are not helical but are circumferential so that they are noteffective to cause axial movement of the sleeve when engaged by followerwheel 42 but merely cam the follower assembly radially from its outerengaged position to its inner disengaged position. The cams 62 areprovided at each end of the cylindrical members 23 and 25 in order thatthe roller may operate regardless of the direction of rotation of thesleeve thereby enabling the roller to be assembled in the printing pressindiscriminately with respect to such rotation.

This lateral camming of the follower assembly to its disengaged positionwhen the full length of the particular cam has been traversed causes theother follower assembly to simultaneously move to its engaged positionthrough the action of pivotal lever 58 with the cams and followerassemblies being so arranged and the helical earns 22 and 27 being inphase so that as one follower assembly reaches the end of its travel inits associated cam 7 against the respective follower assemblies whichwould tend to move the engaged follower assembly to its disengagedposition.

In operation, when sleeve 10 is rotated in a clockwise direction asviewed from its left end, cam follower assembly 30 will engage helicalcam 22 (this position being shown in Figure 1) and with the followerassembly being held stationary in support member 34 the sleeve will bemoved axially to the right. During this movement follower assembly 32occupies its innermost or disengaged position free of its associated cam24. As follower assembly 30 reaches the outer end of cam 22 it is cammedby camming surface 62 to its innermost or disengaged position andfollower assembly 32 is simultaneouslymoved from its disengaged positionto its engaged position with the inner end or beginning of helical cam24 whereupon sleeve 10 is moved in the opposite direction with the camfollower assemblies-being shifted and the direction of movement of thesleeve being rethe sleeve in the opposite direction when the directionof rotation of the sleeve reversed: During lateral movement'of thesfeeve the spring pressed detents 50 are positioned inthe appropriategroove provided in each of the cam follower assemblies therebypreventing the follower assemblies from being accidentally displaced.

In assembling the inking roll of the present invention the internalmechanism is initially packed in grease or other suitable lubricant andsince thebearings 16 and I8 closely fit the smooth spindles 12 and 14,respectively, so there is little or no leakage of the lubricant,substantially noniaint'enance of the device is required.

With the organization of the present invention an extremely compactautomaticallyvi'brating inking roll is provided which isinherentlybalanced for rotation about its axis without the use of special counterweights, which is no longer than the minimum length of roller desiredand which has a small diameter. Furthermore with the" novel constructionof this invention the weight and consequently the inertia of thereciprocating portions of the roll are a minimum and yet relativelyheavy and "frictionless cam followers provided with a Wheel or rollermay be employed.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention andwithout sacrificing its chief advantages;

What is claimed is:

1. An inking roll for a printing press comprising a cylindrical sleeve,a pair of spaced, fixed, axially aligned spindles upon which said sleeveis journaled both for axial rotation and axial reciprocation through apredetermined amplitude, a pair of internal helical cams of oppositepitch disposed within said sleeve for movement therewith, said camsbeing coaxial with said sleeve and being axially spaced from oneanother, a stationary support member disposed intermediate said spacedspindles and secured thereto, said support member being positionedradially within said cams, a pair of cam followers snugly but slidablymounted within lateral slots formed in said support member so as to belaterally movable to and from a cam engaging position and a camdisengaging position but restrained against movement with the sleeve andcams with each of said followers being associated with a different camand cooperating with said cams to effect reciprocation of said sleeve,each of said cam followers including a rotatably mounted wheel thatengages the cam when the follower is in its engaged position, a leverinterposed between said followers and pivoted to said support member ata location generally centrally intermediate said followers with the endsof said lever being loosely engaged with the cam followers, said leverbeing effective to move one follower from its disengaged to its engagedposition in response to the other follower moving from its engaged toits disengaged position, and a concentric cam provided at the end ofeach of the helical cams operative to cam the engaged follower laterallyto its disengaged position.

2. An inking roll as defined in claim 1 wherein the cam followers aremounted for limited angular movement about the axis parallel with thedirection of their lateral movement to provide for proper seating of thefollower within the cam.

3. An inking roll as defined in claim 2 wherein the means whereby thesleeve is journaled to the spindles is constructed and arranged toinhibit the escape of grease from the interior of the spindle.

4. An inking roll as defined in claim 2 wherein the cam followers aremounted for limited angular movement about their axis parallel with thedirection of their lateral movement to provide for proper seating of thefollower within the cam with this angular movement being limited bytheifiterconnection between the respective follower and the lever;

S. An inking roll for a printing press comprising a cylindrical sleeve,a pair of spaced, fixed, axially aligned spindles upon which said sleeveis mounted for rotation about its major axis and for axial reciprocationthrough apredetermined amplitude, a pair of internal helical cams ofopposite pitch disposed within said sleeve for movement therewith and incoaxial relation therewith with the cams being in closely spacedrelation, a stationary support member disposed intermediate said spacedspindles and secured thereto, a first generally cylindrical cam:follower means snugly but slideably rec'ei-ved within alateral: bore"provided in the support memher so that it may move axially within thebore to and from. engagement with one of the helical cams. and so thatit. is angularly adjustable about the axis of the bore to permit properseating within the helical cam, a second generally cylindrical camfollower means similarly received within a second bore provided withinthe stationary support and cooperating with the other cam, each of: saidcam follower means including a rotatably mountedwheel that contacts thecam when the follower is moved" to its cam engaging position, meanslimiting the angular adjustment of the followers and means ef fective todisengage the engaged follower and engage the disengaged follower whenthe sleeve reaches a predetermined location in each direction ofmovement.

6.'An; inking roll for a printing press comprising a hollow cylindricalbody, a fixed shaft means extending coaxially through said body and uponwhich said body is journaled both for axial rotation and axialreciprocation through a predetermined amplitude, mechanism disposedwithin said body for effecting reciprocation thereof as it rotatesincluding cam means secured to and movable with said body, saidcam meanscomprising a pair of spaced sleeves coaxial with said body and providedwith internal, square, helical threads of opposite pitch, separateannular members at each end of each sleeve fitted into the ends of thesleeves to prevent relative movement between these members and thesleeve and providing an eccentric cam that forms a smooth continuationwith the root of the thread and extends in an inward direction, a pairof followers mounted in said shaft means with each follower associatedwith a different sleeve, each follower including a generally cylindricalhousing which carries a member adapted to engage the threads of theassociated sleeve with the housing being snugly but slideably receivedwith in a lateral bore in said shaft means so as to be movable axiallyof said bore to and from a position where said member engages thethreads of the sleeve and so as to be rotatable about the axis of saidbore to permit proper seating of said member with relation to saidthreads, a lever interposed between said followers and pivoted to saidshaft means as a location generally centrally intermediate saidfollowers with the ends of said lever being loosely engaged with the camfollowers in a manner which limits the rotational movement of thefollowers about the axis of their respective bores, said lever beingeffective to move one follower from its disengaged to its engagedposition in response to the other follower moving from its engaged toits disengaged position with the eccentric cams in the annular membersbeing operative to cam the engaged follower laterally to its disengagedposition.

7. An inking roll for a printing press comprising a hollow cylindricalbody, a pair of spaced, fixed, axially aligned spindles upon which saidbody is journaled both i for axial rotation and axial reciprocationthrough a predetermined amplitude, mechanism disposed within said bodyfor elfecting reciprocation thereof as it rotates including cam meanssecured to and movable with said body, said cam means comprising a pairof spaced sleeves coaxial with said body and provided with internal,square, helical threads of opposite pitch, separate annular members ateach end of each sleeve fitted into the ends of the sleeves to preventrelative movement between these members and the sleeve and providing aneccentric cam that forms a smooth continuation with the 'rootof thethread and extends in an inward direction, a stationarysupportmemberdisposed intermediate the spaced spindles and secured thereto,said support member being positioned within said sleeves, a pair offollowers carried by said support member with each such followerincluding a generally cylindrical housing having a recess therein andwithin which is mounted a roller with the housing being snugly butslideably received within a lateral bore in the support member so astobe laterally movable to and from positions where the wheel is inengagement with and disengaged from the thread of the sleeve androtatable about the axis of the bore to permit proper seating withinsaid thread with teach;of the followers being associated with adifferent sleeve and cooperating with said threads to effectreciprocation of the inking roll, a lever interposed between saidfollowers and pivoted to said support member ata location generallycentrally intermediate said followers with the ends of the lever beingreceived within slots in the housing of the follower in a mannerpermitting limited but preventing excessive rotation of the housing ofthe follower, said lever being effective to move one follower from itsdisengaged to its engaged positionin response to the other followermoving from its engaged to its disengaged position with the eccentriccams in the annular members being operative to cam the engaged followerlaterally to its disengaged position.

8. An inking roll for a printing press comprising a cylindrical sleeve,a fixed shaft means extending coaxially through said sleeve and uponwhich said sleeve is mounted for rotation about its major axis and foraxial reciprocation through a predetermined amplitude, a pair ofinternal helical cams of opposite pitch disposed within said sleeve formovement therewith and in coaxial relation therewith with the cams beingin closely spaced relation, a pair of followers mounted in said shaftmeans with each follower associated with a different cam, each followerincluding a generally cylindrical housing which carries a member adaptedto engage the associated cam with the housing being snugly but slideablyreceived within a lateral bore in said shaft means so as to be movableaxially of said bore to and from a position where said member engagesthe cam and so as to be angularly adjustable about the axis of said boreto permit proper seating of said member with relation to said cam andwith the diameter of the housing being only slightly less than thecorresponding dimension of the shaft means, means limiting the angularadjustment of the followers and means effective to disengage the engagedfollower and engage the disengaged follower when the sleeve reaches apredetermined location in each direction of movement.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

